Improvement in fifth-wheels for wagons and carriages



Ys. B. HITT.- Fifth-Wheelsfnr Wagons and Carriages .N0 ]58212 v Patented Dec.29,1874.

NrrnD STATES 'PATENT 'Frron.

SYLVANUS B. HITT, OF WATERLOO, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS HlS RIGHT TO RICHARD T. HITT AND ROBERT W. CHAPMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIFTH-WHEELS FOR WAGONS AND CARRIAGES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent N o. 158,212, dated December 29, 1874; application tiled August 25, 1874.

To all whom t may concern Beit known that I, SvLvANUs B. Hrrr, of the city of Waterloo, Black Hawk county, and State of Iowa, have invented certain Improvements in Wagon-Circles or Fifth-Wheels for Platform Spring Wagons, Buggies, and Garriages, of which the following is a specification: Y

This invention relates to certain improvements upon that class of fifth-wheels for vehicles in which the lower section is provided with conical rollers upon which the upper section bears and turns, for the purpose of rendering such class of devices more efficient and perfect in operation.

The object of this invention is to improve such class of' devices, whereby a tight and closeiitting union between the Lipper 4and lower sections is effected, thereby preventing the entrance of dirt between the parts, which would impair the proper workin g of the parts; and, further, the two sections of the fifth-wh eel will act as guides to each other and prevent any lateral displacement.

To this end my invention consists in constructing the lower section of the fifth-wheel, which carries the rollers, with a vertical iiange on its outer periphery, and constructing the upper section with a downwardly-projecting iiange on its inner periphery, whereby, when the two parts are in their proper position, there will be a tight and close-fitting union between the two, preventing the entrance of dust and protecting and concealing` the rollers from injury, and rendering the operation of the device perfect and very efficient in operation; and at the same time the construction ot' the said sections is such that they act as guides to each other when the one is turning, as will be hereinafter described.

ln the accompanping drawings, Figure `l represents the bolsters and platform of a vehicle having my improvements applied thereto; Figs. 2 and 3, detached views of the lower and upper sections of the fth-wheel, and Fig. l a longitudinal central section.

The bolsters and platform are, in the presentinstance, united together by atlan ged plate,

i, secured to the bolsters, and having a central opening into which fits a circular projection, h, on a anged plate, g, bolted to the platformgear, thereby permitting the latter to be turned, and preventing wear between the two parts, this method of uniting the platform and bolsters having been found to be very reliable 4and efficient. The upper section ot' the iit'th-wheel is constructed with a horizontal iiange, E, and a downwardly-projecting iiange, j', on its inner periphery, forining an angle-iron, which is bolted to the bolsters, as shown, and the lower section of the fifth-wheel is constructed of a iiat ring, having on its outer periphery a vertical iiange, a, and cast or formed with segmental cavities, within which the rollers d are journaled in radial lines drawn from the center of the iifth-wheel. When the two parts of the fifth-wheel, constructed as above described, are in their proper position, the tlangef on the upper section will project down to, or nearly to, the inner periphery of the lower section, and the vertical flange a on the latter will project slightly above the lower edge of' the horizontal flange E of the upper section, whereby a tight and close union between lthe two is effected, and the rollers will be entirely concealed and protected. Further, by this tight and close fitting of the sections, the entrance of dirt and other matter which would impair the proper operation of the device is prevented, and by the iianges described the sections are prevented from any lateral movement, and act as guides to each other.

What I claim is- The lower section of a fifth-wheel, constructed with a vertical iiange, a, and segmental cavities, in which the rollers d are journaled, in combination with the upper section constructed with 'the downwardly-projecting iiange f, substantially as and for the purpose spec-ined.

SYLVANUS B. HITT.

Witnesses:

W. A. Caowrnna, U. B. WrLLrAMs. 

